Braydion Matlock was killed by what his mother's boyfriend, Nicholas Barbee, called an accidental shooting on Feb. 9, 2013.PHOTO:submitted

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Toddler Shooting Case Goes to Grand Jury

By WestKyStar Staff

PADUCAH, KY - A man charged with second-degree manslaughter in the deadly shooting of a 3-year-old boy, has waived a preliminary hearing and his case will go straight to a grand jury.

21-year-old Nicholas Barbee was in McCracken District Court on Tuesday. The Paducah Sun reports his attorney, Chris McNeill, told Judge Chris Hollowell that his client wished to forego the hearing.

The manslaughter charge against Barbee stems from the Feb. 9 death of Braydion Matlock, the 3-year-old son of his girlfriend, Maria Lopez.

According to police, Barbee told them that he accidentally shot Braydion while watching him that afternoon. According to the police report, Barbee said that the shooting happened between 3:45 and 4 p.m. The 911 call was received at 4 p.m. and emergency responders arrived at the home at 4:04.

Barbee is currently free on bond awaiting a tentative arraignment on March 28 in McCracken Circuit Court.